Characterization of the pulmonary immune response to Aspergillus fumigatus allergen in juvenile mice with reduced mucus clearance due to airway surface dehydration

Introduction: We have previously demonstrated that juvenile mice with airway overexpression of epithelial Na+ channels (βENaC-Tg) exhibit airway surface dehydration and eosinophilic airway inflammation (Mall MA, AmJRespirCritCareMed2008). We hypothesized that airway surface dehydration may increase the susceptibility for allergic airway inflammation towards Aspergillus fumigatus allergen (Af) and set out to characterize the innate and adaptive immune response in lungs during allergen challenge. Methods: βENaC-Tg mice were intratracheally challenged with Af. Airway inflammation was analyzed by differential cell c…